Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Mirror Images

For a brief moment, Cassiel fell silent.

He had almost forgotten.

The Elysia of ten, eleven, and twelve years old had been the brightest, happiest girl in all of Aveanlor.

Her days had been filled with love and laughter.

With family.

With endless adventures.

Compared to all those wonderful memories...

Vaelen had barely occupied a small corner of her heart.

And as for himself...

Cassiel had never even appeared, much less hold a place there.

No wonder...

She didn’t remember meeting him.

Seeing him suddenly go quiet, Elysia felt a little apologetic.

"I’m sorry, my lord."

Cassiel looked at her and smiled faintly.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

After a brief pause, he added, "But... If you truly wish to make it up to me. Then promise me you will enjoy today’s boat ride."

Elysia couldn’t help laughing softly.

"Very well. I promise."

As the smile lingered on her lips, she suddenly realized...

It had been a very long time since she had felt so relaxed.

So carefree.

If... Cassiel didn’t already have someone else in his heart...

Then perhaps... Living peacefully as the Duchess of Draevenor Manor for the rest of her life wouldn’t have been such a bad future.

Unfortunately...

There was no such "if."

The remainder of the journey passed pleasantly.

Cassiel spoke to her about General Benedict.

Naturally, Elysia had long known of him.

Her father, brothers, and uncles had all served in the military.

Among soldiers, everyone usually knew everyone else.

Benedict had been renowned for his integrity and generosity.

He treated his fellow soldiers like brothers.

He had often joked that if he died in battle, he wished to be buried beside them.

That way... None of them would ever be alone.

His greatest and perhaps only regret in life had been his marriage to Melissa.

It had been an arranged union decided by their parents when they were both young.

There had never been any affection between them.

At the time, Cassiel’s mother, Sereia, had only recently entered the imperial palace as a low-ranking concubine.

Benedict himself had held no significant military rank.

And Melissa had never let him forget it.

She constantly belittled him, complained about him and looked down on him.

Elysia frowned thoughtfully.

"But later... Her Majesty gave birth to His Majesty. Shouldn’t that have elevated the Asheford family’s standing?"

Cassiel nodded slightly.

"In theory, yes. But the late Emperor had many sons. My brother’s birth was especially difficult. He was frail from childhood and never particularly favoured by our father."

"I see..."

Elysia murmured.

"So Lady Melissa continued looking down on Uncle Benedict."

Cassiel’s expression cooled.

"My brother once overheard her speaking to one of her maids during a palace visit. She called him a sickly runt who would never amount to anything. She even questioned why Mother risked her life giving birth to someone like him."

As soon as she heard this, everything suddenly became clearer to Elysia.

"No wonder... General Benedict was both yours and His Majesty’s uncle. But Lady Melissa never seems to leverage that relationship which is completely unlike her. It’s because she offended His Majesty long ago."

"Exactly."

Cassiel nodded.

"I never cared much for her. But Uncle Benedict died saving my life. He left behind three children. I couldn’t simply abandon them."

Elysia smiled gently.

"It’s alright. Roxana is already married. Once Lillian finds a good husband and Lucien marries a wife and establishes his own household, Lady Melissa should naturally live with her son. It would be scandalous otherwise for her to remain at Draevenor Manor even then."

She thought for a moment before continuing, "And even if she insists... We can simply let her stay in Rose Hall. It only costs a little silver each month. The manor is large enough. We won’t have to see her very often."

Cassiel quietly watched her analysing the situation and warmth slowly spread through his chest.

He wanted to embrace her and tell her...

That she was so gentle and compassionate, he couldn’t help but find her endearing.

That he admired how thoughtfully she considered everyone around her.

But before he could express his thoughts—

The carriage came to a gentle stop.

Elysia looked outside and smiled brightly.

"We’ve arrived."

She immediately climbed out of the carriage.

Cassiel watched her disappear before swallowing the words that never left his lips.

Before General Benedict’s grave, offerings had already been prepared.

Cassiel paid his respects first.

Then Elysia.

Finally...

Lillian stepped forward.

After the incense had burned halfway down, Cassiel asked, "Shall we head to the lakeside and have lunch?"

Lillian lowered her eyes.

"I ate before leaving the manor. I’m not hungry."

She hesitated before adding softly,

"If it’s alright... I’d like to stay here with Father a little longer."

Cassiel nodded.

"As you wish."

Though he agreed readily, he quietly instructed two guards to remain nearby and protect her.

Only then did he leave with Elysia.

As they walked away, the breeze carried Lillian’s quiet voice back to them.

"Father... I’m living at Draevenor Manor now. I’m doing well. Mother, Lucien and Roxana are all well. Cassiel has married Lady Elysia of the Hartwell family. She’s very kind. She promised she’ll find a good husband for me..."

Elysia’s heart tightened.

She instinctively turned back.

Lillian stood alone before the grave.

Her back was perfectly straight.

For some reason...

The sight reminded Elysia of herself.

Not long after marrying into the Crown Prince’s Wing in her previous life...

She had stood before the Hartwell family shrine.

Smiling.

Reassuring her fallen family that she was doing well.

Even though...

She had never felt more alone.

The resemblance between their circumstances made her chest ache.

Beside her, Cassiel noticed the change in her expression.

"What are you thinking?"

Elysia looked ahead once more.

After a long moment, she answered softly,

"I’m thinking... I really must find Lillian a wonderful husband and a good household."

Cassiel glanced sideways at her.

"Why?"

Elysia didn’t answer his question immediately.

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